Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander

[tdSKINS1]

I'd still rather see Clinton start.. SA is good if CP can't go but this is a huge game for both teams and we need every edge we can get

[GoSkins!]

I have mixed feelings about Clinton playing, but one thing that gives me a little hope is that he has already played on this injury for 3 quarters. Remember he injured it in the Pittsburg game during the 1st quarter.

If he can play, I'd force him to wear a knee brace and still use him sparingly. He is so valuable as a pass blocker that I'd like to see him in there even at 70%. Dallas would have to account for him.

[DynamiteRave]

I'd love to see Alexander have a good day. Portis is my main man and without him the run game will hurt a little but for some reason I just wanna see SA break one to prove he's not as washed up as everyone thinks he is.

[SC Skins Fan]

I'm holding out more hopes of Betts playing than Portis. Certainly hoping to see Betts rather than Alexander. Based similar injuries to other backs (Betts and Willie Parker specifically) the timetable seems closer to 4 weeks than to two. That would have Portis back for the Giants. That is what I am thinking at this point anyway.

[Jamaican'Skin]

I don't think Portis should go. He has taken this team on his back for the entire half of the season, and has been a difference maker on both sides of the ball, but we are going to need him further down this season. If we brought SA in here to run the ball when guys get injured, let him work for his money. He and Rock should be able to keep some pressure off JC. If Portis does go, I think we risk our season, and we cannot afford that. Gotta go RB by comittee and hope that the other guys step up

[CRedskinsRule]

I could go with SA as the 1st and 2nd down back, but I would rather have Portis in on 3rd down even just as a blocking back. We definitely drop off when he isn't doing that.

[redskinsrob]

You have to sit Portis for this one, we need him to be healthy to make the push for the playoffs later in the season. What about giving some of those carries to Sellars? Did anybody notice when the Cowpukes played the Giants a few weeks back, they were afraid to tackle Jacobs. Sellers is 280+ he would a good alternative to punish them. Does anyone know the status of Kelly? I heard there was a chnce he would be in the line up. Could be a factor in moving the chains.

[LMsexyAO]

We can't forget that WHOEVER is our RB is going to have a serious dose of pass protection all night long. JLC mentioned this a few days ago, after Portis and Betts we have a HUGE reduction in pass blocking RBs. Shaun just isn't very good at it and Rock is undersized and has never really done it before.

Running the ball is just half of what Portis brings to our offense and even though Betts would be a GREAT backup if he's ready to go, even he is half the pass protector that Portis is.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by LMsexyAO

We can't forget that WHOEVER is our RB is going to have a serious dose of pass protection all night long. JLC mentioned this a few days ago, after Portis and Betts we have a HUGE reduction in pass blocking RBs. Shaun just isn't very good at it and Rock is undersized and has never really done it before.

Running the ball is just half of what Portis brings to our offense and even though Betts would be a GREAT backup if he's ready to go, even he is half the pass protector that Portis is.

Not that I'm supporting this idea, but if worse came to worse, could Sellers pass block?

[diehardskin2982]

I rather have portis out and hope the others can step up because we need a healthy Portis if we go to the play offs. I DON'T WANT PORTIS IN THIS GAME!!! If the Cowgirls smell blood in the water I don't think they will hesitate to take portis out

[schndr_tdd]

marcus mason should be on the roster

[over the mountain]

CP lead the league in rushes last year was leading this year and how hard he runs its no surpirse he is dinged up . . . i would have liked to have seen betts share some carries over the past 4 games but the timing of betts injury just never allowed it.

kinda sucks to have one of the best backup rbs in the league then for the 4-6 game window he would be relied upon he isnt available. just bad luck and timing, no way to avoid the inevitable injury to portis . . . . very frustrating to have to go to your back up back up plan for such a big game and stretch in the season.

[MTK]

This doesn't sound good for Portis:

ESPN - Stephania Bell Blog

Portis has a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain that could sideline him this week, according to the Washington Post. We all know that Portis has been taking his share of hits with his big workload so far this year and has proved extremely resilient, but a grade 2 MCL sprain is a compromising injury for a running back.



The Post reports that Portis said on John Thompson's radio show that he was having more pain in his knee late last week, which led to further evaluation and the ultimate diagnosis. Portis also stated that as of Tuesday he was just starting to bend his knee and could not fully straighten it, either. This is not unusual for an MCL injury, as some of the ligament fibers are stretched when the knee is bent and others are stretched when the knee is extended. As the ligament is trying to heal, it is important not to overstretch those fibers, so initially the knee is restricted from the extremes of the range of motion.



If Portis was still lacking range of motion Tuesday, it's almost impossible to imagine that he could regain full motion and have enough strength and stability to perform in a game. Remember Willie Parker just returned (against the Redskins, in fact) after missing about a month with a similar injury. LaDainian Tomlinson tried to play in the 2007 AFC Championship game but lasted only a few plays because of a grade 2 MCL injury. Running backs' rapid directional changes stress the MCL significantly, and pain or a sense of instability will render them far less effective. This injury typically requires a few weeks of recovery, but a grade 2 (moderate) sprain represents a big range in terms of the extent of damage to the tissue -- the time frame for recovery is not automatic. If Portis is able to participate in practice late in the week, it bodes well for an earlier recovery, but even then, it would be a big surprise to see him in the lineup Sunday.

[WaldSkins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm not giving up hope on Portis just yet, I'd rather have CP at 80% than Alexander at 100%.

Exactly. You have to account for CP even if he isnt getting the ball. He blocks extremely well something that Alexander does not excel at.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

This doesn't sound good for Portis:

ESPN - Stephania Bell Blog

Portis has a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain that could sideline him this week, according to the Washington Post. We all know that Portis has been taking his share of hits with his big workload so far this year and has proved extremely resilient, but a grade 2 MCL sprain is a compromising injury for a running back.



The Post reports that Portis said on John Thompson's radio show that he was having more pain in his knee late last week, which led to further evaluation and the ultimate diagnosis. Portis also stated that as of Tuesday he was just starting to bend his knee and could not fully straighten it, either. This is not unusual for an MCL injury, as some of the ligament fibers are stretched when the knee is bent and others are stretched when the knee is extended. As the ligament is trying to heal, it is important not to overstretch those fibers, so initially the knee is restricted from the extremes of the range of motion.



If Portis was still lacking range of motion Tuesday, it's almost impossible to imagine that he could regain full motion and have enough strength and stability to perform in a game. Remember Willie Parker just returned (against the Redskins, in fact) after missing about a month with a similar injury. LaDainian Tomlinson tried to play in the 2007 AFC Championship game but lasted only a few plays because of a grade 2 MCL injury. Running backs' rapid directional changes stress the MCL significantly, and pain or a sense of instability will render them far less effective. This injury typically requires a few weeks of recovery, but a grade 2 (moderate) sprain represents a big range in terms of the extent of damage to the tissue -- the time frame for recovery is not automatic. If Portis is able to participate in practice late in the week, it bodes well for an earlier recovery, but even then, it would be a big surprise to see him in the lineup Sunday.

Doesn't look too good for CP. I think we should sit him down the next couple of weeks and let this thing heal up. Let Rock and Alexander carry the ball and have Thomas or Thrash return kicks. We'll be fine.